IT'S THURSDAY...

...so it must be Community Fridge day!  

Unfortunately, it was another cold, damp and dismal day, but that didn’t prevent lots of people queuing outside well before the opening time of the Community Fridge, which is at 11 o’clock, and they are assured of a warm welcome once they come in.

There is always lots to do before the doors open and today was no exception, then at 10.55 we always have a prayer time - Gorse Hill Baptist is a Church after all - which is why I have put the Prayer Table at the top of my collage for today.  We have lots of different leaflets that can be given to our customers, and we often pray with them too, if they would like us to do that.  

Then going clockwise round - the table with lots of different “bits and bobs” and where it is good to have a scrabble around to see if there is anything that takes your fancy.  I noticed today that the Ugu Leaves, known as pumpkin leaves, the dark green leaves of the fluted pumpkin plant, which is native to southern Nigeria, were still on the table from two months ago - perhaps the Nigerian friends who come into the fridge would rather have our English food, like sprouts and parsnips, although there were lots of these left over today!

The shot below that is a box of dog and cat food, with various “pouches for their pooches”!  Not being an animal owner, I wouldn’t trade food for ourselves for any of these, but people obviously love their animals, and these don’t last long before they are taken.

We had LOTS of bread today, not only the sliced variety, but also lots of unsliced loaves too - but I noticed at the end, although they were classed as “free” foods, which means that people can take as much as they like and it’s not counted in with their 5 items, we still had lots left - so this was left for the Pram Club that meets tomorrow in the Church.  Perhaps I need to start making bread pudding again!

Bananas were also “free”, but again, I noticed at the end, there were still quite a lot left.  I did suggest to one lady she might like to make some banana bread, but she didn’t take the hint, so hope the young mums at the Pram Club might help us out by taking lots.  However, we do have a lady who often comes in towards the end and takes lots to go in her compost heap - she must have some good compost!

I had some good conversations this morning, but it was noticeable that people didn’t stay too long - it had got quite cold, so perhaps they just wanted to get home.  

One couple from Lebanon came in and wanted instructions on how to get to “The Harbour Project”, which is somewhere that asylum seekers and refugees can go to get help and advice.  It’s not too far from the Church,  but it took quite a long time to explain, because they didn’t speak any English and I don’t speak Arabic - so good old Google Translate came into its own.  They were very grateful and even more so when I told them that they could have five free items of food!  

Now it’s home and “feet up” time before I cook our evening meal - Mr. HCB told me he was out in the garden for quite a while this morning, but got very cold, so he came in and vacuumed around - what a star he is!  

It’s a good feeling to know that you have helped people - and so rewarding too. M xx